There are teachers who instruct.
And then there are teachers who embody.
Oneika Mays is both.
A mindfulness coach, yoga teacher, and soon-to-be author, Oneika spent years teaching meditation and yoga at Rikers Island — bringing practices of loving kindness into an environment often defined by hostility and control.
In this week’s episode of Hope Comes to Visit, Oneika shares what that experience taught her:
That agency matters.
That choice is liberation.
That you don’t have to like someone to love them.
Her upcoming book, Sit With Me, blends memoir, spiritual teaching, and practical guidance for anyone who feels lost or alone. It’s rooted in the practice of meta — loving kindness — and asks a bold question:
What if the work begins with loving ourselves through our messiest parts?
We also talk about:
The boundaries that led her to leave Rikers
The grief of losing her father
Writing through 15 rejections
Living with nuance in a polarized world
And the moment hope “dropped in” when she thought she couldn’t go on
This is a conversation about courage, complexity, and staying present — even when it’s hard.
Listen now.
This episode is a reminder that hope doesn’t require perfection. It requires presence.
✨ Connect with Oneika:
Instagram: @OneikaMays
Substack: Oneika Mays
If this episode moved you, share it with someone you love — and leave a review. It means more than you know.
Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review – it helps others find their way to these conversations.
New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.
For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit
xo, Danielle
